Steam-trap.



No. 662,489. Patented Nov. 27, I900. L. B. FULTON.

STEAM TRAP.

(Application filed Apv. 17. 1900.,

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet II Wig-Z W q/vihmoaeo attorney No. 662,489. Patented Nov. 27,1900.

' L. B. FULTON.

STEAM TRAP.

A lication filed A r. 17

UNTTED STATES PATENT OEEioE.

LOUISB. FULTON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE OHAPLIN- FULTON MANU FAOTURIN G COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

STEAM-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 662,489, dated November 27, 1900.

Application filed April 17, 1900- Serial No. 13,177. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS B. FULTON, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invent-ed certain new and useful Improvements in Steam- Traps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and. use the same.

This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in steam-traps.

In traps as heretofore constructed the discharge-controlling valves soon become worn and are rendered useless because they cannot be positively seated, the partial throttling of the water destroying their utility in a very short time.

The primary object of my invention is to insure a positive seating and u nseating of the valve controlling the discharge, such valve being moved by pressures acting in opposite directions, the unseating pressure being positively overcome by the seating medium before all the water is discharged.

A further object is to provide simple mechanism for insuring the positive operation of the partsfor controlling pressure to and relieving it from the diaphragm of the dischargecontrolling valve.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing the application of my trap to an ordinary steam-separator. Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged vertical sectional views showing the different positions of the float and the operating mechanism. Fig. 4 is a side view with parts broken away. Fig. 5 is asectional view of the pressure-valve. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of details. Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic-a1 view. I

Referring to the drawings, A designates the chamber of a live-steam separator such as is ordinarily used in large plants for collecting water of condensation from steam-mains.

B is a trap-casing which is shown as connected to the separator by steam and water pipes 1 and 2, whereby the levels in the casing will correspond with those in the separator.

O is a discharge-controlling valve which is shown as located in a pipe 3, leading from the separator. This valve is provided with a dia' phragm t and a spring 5, such spring tending, together with the pressure of the water against the under side of the valve, to positively unseat the latter when pressure is relieved from the diaphragm. The application of pressure to such diaphragm \villovercome the pressure of the spring and that of the water from the separator under proper conditions and effect the positive seating of the valve. A pressure-pipe 6 opening above the diaphragm leads from the steam'space of the trap-casing near the top thereof. In this pipe are fixed the pressure-valve 7 and relief-valve 8, which are provided with depending stems 9, designed to be alternately engaged by the arms 10 of a lever 11, fulcrumed at 12. Both of these valves are provided with springs 13, whiclntogetherwith the pressure,serve to normally hold them seated. They are alternately unseated by lever 11, which holds first one valve and then the other from its seat until the full discharge from or accumulation in the trap-casing is effected. When the valve 7 is unseated, pressure in pipe 6 will act on the diaphragm of valve 0 and positively seat the latter. When the lever is rocked and re lief-valve 8 is unseated, valve 7 being seated by its springand the steain-pressu re, the pressure in pipe 6 and hence pressure on the diaphragm are relieved.

D is a float located within trapcasing B and caused to rise and fall by the water-levels therein. The float is provided with a central depending rod 14, having on its lower end a head or button 15, which may be adjusted to shorten or lengthen the movement of the float. The rod 14 is passed through nut 16, pivotally hung bet-ween the prongs 17 of one of two toggle-arms 18 and 19, the

prongs of the two arms being flexibly connected at 20. The toggle-arm 19 is keyed fast at its outer end on a shaft 21, extended longitudinally through a hollow boss 22 of casing 13. On the outer end of this shaft is an arm 23, which is connected bya link 24 to lever 11.

to a barrel 27, containing a coil-spring 28,

which is held under compression by an inclosing-plug 29, screwed into an opening in the casing. As the float rises the head or button engages the nut 16 and draws the toggle upwardly, and as the toggle-arms are brought into a straight line the spring is under its greatest compression. As these arms begin to move past the center they are thrown quickly to their upper limit of movement and so held by the spring 28. The same thing occurs when the toggle is moved downward by the descent of the float. By this construction the final movements of the toggle are independent of the float-that is, as the latter moves the toggle up or down the throw of the spring gives the toggle an accelerated movement, causing the immediate seating or unseating of the discharge-con trolling valve. It is upon the final throw of the toggle that the final movement of the pressure or relief valve occurs. The initial movement of the lever 11 allows the valve previously held unseated to reseat, and upon the final throw of the toggle the other valve is unseated by the lever. When this occurs, the parts are fixedly held by the spring 28, acting on the toggle. It will be understood, of course, that these positive movements of the valve-operating mechanism may be accomplished by suitable means comprehending the use of a weight in lieu of the spring, if desired.

In practice the water-levels in the trapcasing correspond to those of the separator, and the discharge-controlling valve is normally held to its seat by pressure in pipe 6 acting on the diaphragm. As the water-level rises, carrying the float with it, the lever 11, under the movements of the toggle, is turned so as to permit, first, of the seating of the pressure-valve, and, secondly, after the final throw of the toggle, the unseating of the relief-valve, relieving the pressure from the diaphragm and allowing the discharge-controlling valve to positively open under the f action of its spring and the pressure of the water against its under side. As the dis charge of the water from the separator takes place the float will descend and move the toggle downward, reversing the lever 11, permitting, first, the seating of the relief-valve, and, second, causing the unseating of'the pressure-valve. As pressure is thus again admitted to the diaphragm of the dischargecontrolling valve the latter is immediately positively reseated as against the pressure of the discharged water and the spring 5. This reseating of the discharge-controlling valve occurs before all the Water is discharged from the separator, as it is customary to retain a portion of the water therein.

Although I have shown my improved trap as applied to a separator, yet it will be understood that it is not restricted in this connection, and the pipe in which the dischargecontrolling valve is located may'lead directly from the trap-casing.

I claim as my invention 1. A steam-trap comprising a discharge-controlling valve capable of being positively unseated by the discharge-pressure, a pressurepipe through which pressure is admitted to seat such valve as against the discharge-pressure, controlling means for positively exhausting and restoring pressure in the pressure-pipe, means actuated by the water-levels in the trap, and means, primarily operated by the last-mentioned means, having a movement independent thereoffor periodically and positively operating said controlling means.

2. Asteam-trap comprising a casing, a float therein a discharge-controlling valve capable of being positively unseated by the dischargepressure, a pipe fol-supplying pressure to seat such valve as against the discharge-pressure, means for alternately cutting off and restoring pressure in such pipe, and means, having a movement independent of but primarily actuated by said float, for positively operating the former means, as set forth.

3. Asteam-trap comprising a casing, a float therein, a discharge-'controlling valve, a pipe for supplying pressure to seat such valve, means for positively cutting off and restoring pressure in such pipe, means primarily moved by the'float for operating the pressurecontrolling means, and auxiliary means for positively moving said float-operated means independently of the float, substantially as set forth.

4. A steam-trap comprisinga casing, a float therein, a discharge-controlli'ng valve, a pipe for supplying pressure to seat such valve, means for cutting off and restoring pressure in such pipe, means for operating the latter means comprising a toggle primarily moved by the float, and means for positively'moving and holding such toggle, as set forth.

5. Asteam-trap comprising a casing, a float therein, a discharge-controlling valve, a pipe for supplying pressure to seat such valve, two

valves, one for admitting, and the other for relieving, pressure in such pipe, and means for alternately operating said valves, as set forth.

6. Asteam-trap comprising a casing, afloat therein, a discharge-controlling valve, a pipe for supplying pressure to seat such valve, two valves, one for admitting and the other for relieving pressure in such pipe, and means for alternately operating said valves comprising a toggle adapted to be primarily moved by the float, and means for positively moving and holding such toggle, as set forth.

7. A steam-trap comprising a casing, afloat therein, a discharge-controlling valve, a pipe for supplying pressure to seat such valve, two

IIO

valves, normally held seated by pressure, one for admitting and the otherforrelieving pressure in such pipe, a lever for alternately positively unseating said valves, and a connection between said lever and float, as set forth.

8. Asteam-trapcomprisingacasing, a float therein, a discharge-controlling valve capable of being positively unseated by the discharge-pressure, a pipe for supplying pressure to seat such valve as against the discharge-pressure, valve mechanism for alternately admitting and relieving pressure in such pipe, a lever for positively operating such valve mechanism, and means actuated by but having a movement independent of said float for operating said lever, as set forth.

9. A steam-trap comprising a casing, a float therein, a discharge-controlling valve, a pipe for supplying pressure to seat such valve, valve mechanism for admitting and relieving pressure in such pipe, a lever for operating such valve mechanism, and means actuated by said float for operating said lever, comprising a toggle adapted to be primarily moved by the float, and means for positively moving and holding such toggle, as set forth.

10. Asteam-trap comprisingacasing,a float therein, a discharge-controlling valve, a pipe for supplying pressure to seat such valve, two valves, one for admitting and the other for relieving pressure in such pipe, a lever for alternately engaging said latter valves, and means for operating said lever comprising a toggle adapted to be moved by the float, and means for positively moving and holding such toggle, as set forth.

11. The combination with the casing and the valve-controlling mechanism, of the float in said casing, the toggle primarily moved by such float, and means for accelerating the final movements of and holding said toggle, as set forth.

12. The combination With the casing and the valve-controlling mechanism, of a float located in said casing, the toggle primarily moved by such float, and a spring for accelerating the final movements of and holding the toggle, as set forth.

13. The combination with the casing and the valve-controlling mechanism, of a float located in said casing, the toggle primarily moved by such floa't, a spring acting on the toggle, for accelerating the final movements of and holding the latter, and means for regulating the tension of such spring, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination with the casing and the pressure-controlling-valve mechanism, of a lever for operating such valve mechanism, the float Within the casing, a toggle actuated by the float, a shaft to which the toggle is connected, and a connection between such shaft and the lever, substantially as set forth.

15. The combination with the casing and the pressure-controlling-valve mechanism, of a lever for operating such valve mechanism, a float Within the casing, a toggle actuated by the float, a shaft to Which the toggle is connected, an arm on said shaft, and a link connecting said arm to said lever, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination With a chamber for receiving Water of condensation, of a dis charge-controlling valve designed to be automatically unseated by such Water, of a trap having steam and Water connections with such chamber, a pressure'pipe leading from said trap to and above said valve,valve mechanism for cutting off and restoring pressure in such pipe, a float operated by the Waterlevels in said trap, and means actuated by said float for operating said valve mechanism, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with a chamber for receiving Water of condensation, having an outlet-pipe,of a valve fitted in said pipe designed to be unseated by the Water, a diaphragm, a pressurepipe opening adjacent to such diaphragm for admitting pressure to positively seat said valve, a trap having steam and Water .connections with said chamber and to Which the pressure-pipe is connected, valve mechanism for cutting off and restoring pressure in such pressure-pipe, a float operated by the Waterlevels in the trap, and means actuated by such float for operating said valve mechanism, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

LOUIS B. FULTON.

Witnesses:

GRAFTON L. MOGILL, FRANK S. MAGUIRE. 

